After winding its way out of Broxbourne along a canal and through a park, this strenuous walk ascends through the Spital Brook valley into Broxbourne Woods National Nature Reserve, an assortment of varied, ancient and wild woods, serrated by a plethora of streams. A circuitous route linking up separate woods follows age old trails, paths and green lanes through a magnificent and diverse woodland setting. While broadly following a well signposted trail through the Nature Reserve, the walk often diverts from it to take more interesting directions. Most of the distance and the ascent are covered before lunch, but the lunch pub serves food all afternoon, so a leisurely pace is entirely possible.

There are plenty of signed and unsigned paths in the woods, thus following the detailed written directions is essential, and a map and a compass are recommended.

Travel

Broxbourne Station is on the Liverpool Street to Cambridge or Hertford East lines with four trains an hour (two on Sundays), journey time between 25 and 34 minutes. It is also serviced by trains from Stratford, with half-hourly services taking from 30 minutes. Trains stop at Tottenham Hale (connect from the Victoria Line).

Bayford Station (an Alternative Ending) is on the Moorgate to Hertford North and Stevenage line (up to 4 trains per hour weekdays, two on weekends), with a journey time from 40 minutes weekdays, 45 minutes on weekends. Currently Broxbourne is within the Oyster Pay-As-You-Go area (but outside the numbered zones), while Bayford is not. A Hertford (All Stations) return ticket covers both stations. This should be the cheapest option for the short walk.